The 11-member delegation of workers’ union of South Africa, which is on a six-day visit of Jharkhand under an exchange programme, shared the methodology and technique adopted for the implementation of workers’ rights.
The delegation is of the view that such exchange programmes would strengthen the bonding of domestic workers organisations and workers unions between the two countries as well as improving the situation of workers. The delegation will be returning on Friday.
They also met State labour Minister Chandrasekhar Dubey on Wednesday and tried to understand the situation and rights of domestic labourers in the State.
“The delegation wanted to know about the labour laws as well as the situation of the labours in the State. We told them that all facilities are being provided to them and labourers here are getting benefits like provident funds and gratuity also,” said the Minister.
The minister told them that while deciding on the minimum wage of the labourers, wage which is higher between the Centre and the State is taken into consideration as minimum wage. Similarly, the permanent labourers are paid at par with the best pay masters like Steel Authority of India and Central Coalfields limited, said the minister.
According to Dubey, the delegation was keen to know about the situation of child labour here. “An extensive discussion took place regarding the situation of the child labourers across the world and we told them about the schemes in the field of education and shelter being provided to them in the state,” he added. They also visited one education centre in Ranchi being run for the child workers.
Principal Secretary of labour department Vishnu Kumar explained them about various welfare schemes being run in the state. He said that there are several welfare schemes which have been rolled out by the government for the welfare of the workers like Jharkhand social welfare security board, National health insurance scheme, minimum wages board etc. He also directed to provide a list of all the welfare schemes being run in the state for the welfare of the workers.
They were also explained about the steps taken to improve the situation of the workers in the State and Centre and state funded programmes like Indira Awaas Yojana,Old Age Pension etc. and are being successfully run for the interest of the workers.
The delegation also met the acting members of the organisation and took stock of the programmes being successfully run in the state. It also met the representatives of Jharkhand domestic workers union and understood the way of their working.
According to state co-ordinator of Premashraya, organisation under which the delegation has come to the State, Father Chandran Chetan said that the steps taken by the state government was appreciated by the delegation; still there are several practices in South Africa which needs to be learnt from them.
“No child below 16 years is allowed to work in SA and workers are given leave of 21 days after they work for a year. They have a better insurance scheme than here,” said Father Chandran Chetan. Moreover, domestic workers look after their homes while they are away on work for a year.
Similarly, those people who are getting old age pensions cannot work for more than two days in a week, said Chetan.
Chetan said, “Such programmes will improve the morale of the union leaders here and would be able to force their legal demands in an effective way.
The 11 member delegation comprise of Confederation of South African Workers Union and ACB-CSC, made out of 8 different unions of South Africa having over 2.5 lakh members in it. It includes general secretary, secretary, treasurer, youth president, tourism president of the confederation as well as president of 2 unions
and 2 state co-ordinators. Surprisingly, 4 members
of the delegation are those who are working has
domestic workers.